By now you may have heard that singer-songwriter Lesley Gore, best known for the chart-topping 1963 pop immortal "It's My Party" produced by Quincy Jones, died today at the age of 68. She'd been suffering from cancer. Sad news.
She was known for more than just the one hit. Among her others: "She's a Fool," "Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows", "Judy's Turn to Cry," "You Don't Own Me" and the Oscar-nominated "Out Here on My Own" from the film Fame. She was even on aBatman episode once. She wasn't a one-hit wonder, no matter what the obits might say. Far from it.
Ask our good friend George Gimarc.
Way back in 1977, before he was dishing out The Rock and Roll Alternative on KZEW, George was still a youngling learning the whole radio thing behind the boards at KDNT, the first radio station ever in Denton. George was into oldies back then; still is. And on October 29, 1977, he was hosting a show called Jukebox Saturday Night when none other than Lesley Gore called in. She was working the old Playboy Club at the time, singing the hits and performing some newer songs.
It's a short but revelatory interview in which she explains the origins of "It's My Party" and other hits. And then George cues up a 1975 single called "Immortality." Of course.
I've never heard George more excited. And where in the hell did he get that twang?
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